Awning



June 1931. v. M. MCCCVJNNELLA AWNING Filed Oct. 18, 1929 Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES VIRGIL 1a. moonnn nor JAMEST'OWN, new Year;

Awnrne Application filed October 18, "1929. Serial No. 400,559.

This invention relates to an improvement in awnings and more'particularly to oneof knock-down type In its preferred embodiment this invene I 5 tion provides an awning frame comprising a plurality of readily assembled units and to which an unfinished awning cloth may be removably fastened without the attendant difliculties now encountered in connection therewith.

Prior to this invention awnings have generally been comprised of a frame, of suitably'connected tubing, an awning cloth having marginal hems providing pockets into which the frame tubing is inserted. One of the faults of present structures is the in ability to completely assemble the frame and subsequently thereto attach the awning cloth, the practice being to locate each piece 2 of tubing in the proper hem and connect the protruding ends of said tubing'to formthe frame. By reason of the fact that it'is generally necessary to employ one experienced in the manufacture and assembly of awnings to insure a finished job, the cost connected therewith is considerable. It is applicants endeavor to produce an awning structure, as

set forth in the following. specification,.

which may be purchased directly from the awning manufacturer and assembled by the purchaser This is made possible by the method of uniting the frame units as, well as by reason of thefact that an unfinished piece of awning cloth, cut to desired size, is mounted on the frame through theuse of removable clamping elements.

The principal object of this invention lies in the provision of a knock-down awning structure, the assembly of which maybe easily made by those not necessarily skilled in awning manufacture or assembly.

Another object of this invention lies in the provision of an awning structure, the frame of which is assembled separately and prior to mounting the awning cloth.

A. further object of this inventionliesin the provision of a device of this class, the vcloth of which is removably mounted upon the frame. i

: Other and further objects of. this. invenimethod of by which the front rail tion willbe apparent from a consideration of the followingspecification when takeniIi con unction with the accompanying drawr ing's, a-ndin Which V Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing, one modification of this invention in position ofuse; V

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 and shows the method of pivotally connecting'the side rails of the frameto a wall; r

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the. structure shown in Figure 2, beingtaken substantially on the line3+3 of-Figure 2;

Fig. i is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 4 -4: of

Figure land shows the manner of mount.- the head rail upon a wallgf Y Fig. 5 is a perspective View-showingth joining'the front rail to theside rails of'the frame; 1

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the means is joined to the side rails; and V Fig. 7 is a plan view of thebracket shown in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings particularly to Figure 2, the inventionis shown mounted for use upon a wall indicated by the reference numeral 10. Secured to the wall' by means of screw anchors .11 are brackets 13, the faces 14 of which are formed with suitable openings by which to receive the screws '11. Projecting. outwardlyvfrom the face 14L are two flanges 16 parallel with andspaced apart from each other. 'trically d1sposed openings 17 are formed in Concen the flanges 16 for a purpose later to be described.

The awning frame is generally a U-shaped member formed by side rails 20 and front rail 21. The rails 20 are made fromsuitable gage sheet metal and are formed with an inner vertical wall 23. The wall 23. terminates top. and bottom in substantially arcuate shoulders 2 Which in turn terminate in inwardly turned flanges 25 spaced from and parallelwith the Wall 23. At the inner end of the rail'20, the wall23 is extended beyond the shoulders 24 to form a supporting flange 26 in which is drilled an opening 27. The flange 26 is inserted between the parallel flanges 16 of the bracket 13, the openings 17 and 27 being aligned and a bolt 29 is passed therethrough being secured by a nut 30. This constitutes the pivotal support for the U-shaped frame. 7

The front rail 21 is shaped identically with the rail 20, being formed to provide an inner wall 32, shoulders 33 and inwardly extending flanges 34. The ends .of the rail 21, however, have projecting flanges which are a continuation of the rear wall 32. The 1 top and bottom flanges 36 are vertically offset from the intermediate flange'37 and have drilled and tapped openings 38 therethrough; The flanges 36 and 37 are bentat right angles to the wall 32 of the rail 21 and adapted to engage the wall 23 of the rail 20, theflanges 36 being against the outer face and the flange 37 against the inner face of said wall. When the rails 20 and 21 are joined together, screws 39 are engaged with the walls of the openings 38, being turned down to press against and frictionally engage the wall 23 of the rail 20. Since no direct strain by which the cause disengagement of the rails occurs, the screws 39 are suflicient to prevent inadvertent dislodgment of these members. A r

A head rail 40, having an inner wall 41, curved shoulders 42 and flanges 43-, is mounted against the building wall 10 and supports the upper edge of the awning cloth. Screw anchors 45, having hook shaped heads 46, are mounted at intervals in the wall 10. A number of openings 47 are formed in the wall 41 of the rail 40, being engaged by the hooks 45. Because ofthis type of support, the rail is permitted a certain amount of pivotal movement upon thehook when the awning is raised or lowered. The hook 45 further permits this rail, when the awning is lowered, tobedirected at the same angle or slope the awning cloth assumes.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and4 of the drawings, clips 49. are. provided by which to secure the awning cloth 50 to the .side,

front and head rails 20, 21 and 40. These clips are :formed with face walls 51,the

upper and lower edges of which terminate in inwardly. curved shoulders 53. The shoulders 53 are doubled back upon themselvesto form contacting edges 54 and-are then curved inwardly and again outwardly to form spring flanges 55. The clips 51.

mounted on the rails 20, terminate at their inner ends adjacent the flange 26 and at their outer ends are out at an angle to form 'amitered joint 56 with the clip 51 mounted on the front rail'21. A further clip 51,

identical in size and shaperwith the clips already'described, is mounted in the head means for the awning cloth 50.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, it will be noted that a slight modrail 40 and constitutes the upper supporting ification is shown by which to join the front m the pockets 63 thereof the inner wall 23 of the rail 20 and the inner wall 32 of the rail 21. Drilled and tapped openings 64 are "formed in theinner wall 65 of the member 62 andscrews 39 areinserted in the openings to create frictional engagement between the 0 elements 62 and the side and front rails 20 and 21. T r The assembly of an awning made in accordance with the above description is as follows: The brackets 13"and hooks.45 are 5 mounted upon the building wall or other fixture. The U-shaped frame, comprised of rails 20 and 21, may be next assembled by engaging the flanges :36 and 37 of the rail 21 with the inner wall 23 of the rail 20. 9

Screws 39, inserted in the'openings 38.0f the flanges 36, are turned down tofrictionally engage the inner wall of the rails 20 and thus tie these elements together. The

awning cloth 50 is now laid out upon the ts U-shaped frame in a manner such that the lower edge 57 completely covers the longitudinal opening b'etweenthe flanges 34 .of the rail 21. Since it is customary to form awnings with a depending fringe, such a ioo fringe in the form of a strip 58 is laid against the rail 21 in a manner such that theupperedge thereof is adjacent the upper flange 34 of said rail. I It will be noted that the lower edge of the awning and the upper 1 5 edge of the-strip 58 overlap and completely close the space between the flanges 34 in the rail 21. The clip 51 is now placed against the outer face of the rail 21 and pressed inwardly thus causing the flanges 55 to move -i10 the awning cloth into the rail 21 and hold it against the inner wall 32thereof. .The awning cloth is also engagedbetween the clip flanges 55'a11d the flanges 34 ofthe rail 21 to'further prevent slipping, the con- 1 15 tacting surfaces 54 causing said.- cloth to be positioned against the walls of the flanges 34. It will readily be understood that when the clip 51 has'beeusnapped into place in theirail 21, neitherthe awning cloth 50 nor the strip 58 may be withdrawn by reason of the tr plefrictional engagement of said elements with said cloth; 1 The contacting sur faces 54 perform a further function, namely,

that of preventing water or dampness from 12 penetrating to the interior of the rail. 21 and thus rot or weaken the awning cloth along its engaging edge. I The side walls 59 of the awningcloth are secured to the -ra1l 20in the identical manner with that-above described; Since there is a slight pucker of the awning cloth where the front rail joins the side rails,

said rails are not mitered but form rather,

when the clips 51 are in place, a pocket 60 in which said pucker or gathering occurs.

To secure the upper longitudinal edge of the awning to the rail 40, the cloth is doubled back upon itself to form a loop or fold 61. The double cloth is then laid upon and covers the opening in the rail and the clip 51 is snapped into engagement with said rail to retain the cloth in place.

The awning cloth now being supported upon the U-shaped frame and rail 41, the entire structure may be placed in position for use by engaging the hooks 45 with the rail 40 and mounting the flanges 36 of the rails 20 in the brackets 30. The usual ropes may then be attached by which to facilitate raising and lowering the awning.

lVhile only one modification of this invention has been shown and described, applicant does not intend to be limited thereto since it is obvious that other modifications or adaptations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. An awning comprising a frame having front, side and head rails, inwardly turned flanges defining a longitudinal opening in each of said rails,'means in said front rail engaging and frictionally securing said side rails thereto, awning cloth mounted on said frame and further means engaging the walls of said rail opening and anchoring said cloth to said rails.

2. In an awning, a frame having frontand side rails, inturned flanges defining a horizontal opening in each of said rails, means on said front rail engaging and-frictionallyjoining said side rails thereto, awning cloth mounted on said frame, and clips engaging said flanges, said clips causing said cloth to be anchored to said rails.

3. In an awning, a frame havingfront and side rails, inturned flanges defining a longitudinal opening in each of said rails, means on said front rail engaging and frictionally joining said side rails thereto, awning cloth mounted on and covering the openings in said frame, and clips engaging said rails,

6. In an awning, a frame having front and side rails, flanges defining a longitudinal opening in each of said rails, angular flange elements on said front rail engaging said side rails, awning cloth mounted on and covering said rail openings, and clips inter engaged with said rails, said clips being adapted to secure said cloth to said rails.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

' VIRGIL M. MGCOINNELL.

said clips being adapted to force said cloth I into contact with said rails.

4. In an awning, a frame having front and side rails, inturned flanges defining a longitudinal opening in each of said rails, means on said front rail engaging said side rails, awning cloth mounted on and covering the openings invsaid rails, clips, spring flanges defining the longitudinal edges of 

